JP2016126463A - Audio controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an audio controller that implements features which employ sounds, and to increase the types of features, which should be implemented by employing sounds, while suppressing an increase in the number of transmission lines.SOLUTION: An audio controller that implements plural sound employment features that are features which employ sounds includes sound receiving means that acquires a necessary sound, selection accepting means (S110) that accepts selection of a type of sound employment feature, which should be implemented, from among the sound employment features, and control means (S140) that implements each piece of feature implementation processing that is needed to implement the sound employment feature, which is accepted by the selection accepting means, on the basis of the acquired sound. Further, output switching means in sound receiving means regards a sound, which is needed to implement feature implementation processing associated with a mode notification, as a sound, which is outputted onto a transmission line led at least to the control means, according to the mode notification signifying the feature implementation processing accepted by the selection accepting means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a voice control device that realizes a plurality of functions using voice.

  2. Description of the Related Art A navigation device that guides a route to a destination using voice is known (see Patent Document 1). In this type of navigation device, not only route guidance to a destination, but also a plurality of functions for outputting sound (hereinafter referred to as a voice use function and the like) such as an audio function such as a radio and a TV, and a hands-free function in a mobile phone Often).

  The voice control device that realizes various voice use functions for outputting voices provided in such a navigation device includes voice reception units and a control unit. The voice reception unit includes a plurality of voice reception units that acquire each voice to be output by each voice use function, and a control unit that realizes each voice use function based on each voice acquired by the voice reception unit. It has.

  In a general voice control device, a transmission line from the voice reception unit to the control unit is provided for each voice to be output by each voice use function.

JP 2007-212574 A

Incidentally, in recent years, the types of voice utilization functions are increasing in voice control devices of navigation devices.
However, in the conventional voice control device, it is necessary to provide a transmission line from the voice reception unit to the control unit for each type of voice use function, and the number of transmission lines increases when the type of voice use function is increased. The problem arises.

  That is, in the conventional technology, there is a problem that it is difficult to increase the types of voice utilization functions while suppressing an increase in the number of transmission lines in a control device that realizes the voice utilization functions.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to increase the types of functions to be realized using voice while suppressing an increase in the number of transmission lines in a voice control device that realizes functions using voice.

One aspect of the present invention made to achieve the above object relates to a voice control device (1) that realizes a plurality of voice utilization functions, which are functions using voice.
This voice control device includes voice receiving means (10), selection receiving means (24, S110), and control means (24, S140, 18).

The voice reception means acquires each voice necessary for realizing each voice use function. The selection accepting unit accepts selection of the type of the voice utilization function to be executed from each of the voice utilization functions. Further, the control means executes each of the function realization processes necessary for realizing the voice use function received by the selection receiving means based on the voice acquired by the voice receiving means.

  Then, the voice reception means realizes the function realization process corresponding to the mode notification at least for the voice output to the transmission line connected to the control means according to the mode notification representing the function realization process accepted by the selection reception means. Use the necessary audio.

That is, in the voice control device according to one aspect of the present invention, the voice to be output to the transmission line is determined according to the mode notification.
For this reason, in the voice control device, the voice output to the transmission line can be only the voice required for the function realization process currently being executed, and the output of unnecessary voice can be reduced.

As a result, according to the voice control device in one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to increase the types of functions to be realized using voice while suppressing an increase in the number of transmission lines.
In addition, the reference numerals in parentheses described in the columns of “Claims” and “Means for Solving the Problems” indicate the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later as one aspect. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the audio | voice control apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process which the processor of an audio | voice control apparatus performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process which the transmitter / receiver of an audio | voice control apparatus performs.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
A voice control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a control device that processes and outputs input voice.
The voice control device 1 in this embodiment is applied to a navigation device that realizes a navigation function for guiding a route to a set destination, and realizes a voice use function that is a function using voice.

Note that the navigation function in the present embodiment includes a voice route guidance function that guides the route to the destination by voice as one of the voice use functions.
In the present embodiment, as a voice use function, a plurality of functions such as an audio function, a wireless communication function, and a voice recognition function are provided in addition to the voice route guidance function. The audio function mentioned here is a function for playing back or converting content including audio and outputting it. This audio function includes a radio sound output function for receiving / converting and outputting a radio broadcast, a TV function for receiving / converting and outputting a TV broadcast, and a content reproduction function for reproducing and outputting content recorded on a recording medium. In addition, a short-range wireless reproduction function for outputting sound received by short-range wireless communication is included.

  In addition, the wireless call function referred to here is a wireless call function for transmitting uttered voices and receiving received voices via a well-known mobile phone network, performing communication of information including various guidance voices, and notifying the information. Includes telematics function.

In the navigation device, the audio function, the wireless communication function, and the voice recognition function are selected according to information input via the input device 54. Then, the navigation device is configured to execute any one selected function together with the navigation function, or to execute any one selected function alone.
<Structure of voice control device>
The audio control device 1 includes a transceiver 10, a selector 12, a TV tuner 14, a radio tuner 16, a digital signal processor (hereinafter referred to as "DSP (digital signal processor)") 18, and a TDM (Time Division Multiplexing). ) A converter 20, an amplifier 22, and a processor 24 are provided.

  The TV tuner 14 receives a digital television broadcast via the television broadcast antenna 40. Further, the TV tuner 14 outputs a television audio signal TV included in the received digital television broadcast to the TDM converter 20.

  The radio tuner 16 receives a radio broadcast via a radio broadcast antenna 42. Further, the radio tuner 16 outputs a radio audio signal RA included in the received radio broadcast to the DSP 18. The radio broadcast mentioned here may be any radio broadcast, and may be, for example, AM broadcast, FM broadcast, or digital radio broadcast.

  The transceiver 10 is a device that transmits and receives voice and information via the wireless communication device 44 and includes at least a microcomputer 26. The wireless communication device 44 mentioned here transmits and receives voice and information via a well-known mobile phone network.

  The microcomputer 26 is a known computer including at least a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU, and executes various processes according to a processing program. The various processes include a transmitter / receiver process described later in detail.

  The transceiver 10 receives the reception voice HF via the wireless communication device 44. This received voice HF is input to the transceiver 10 via the selector 12. The selector 12 outputs the reception voice HF when the reception voice HF from the wireless communication device 44 is input, and outputs the barge voice BI when a barge voice BI described later in detail is input.

  Further, the transceiver 10 receives content including audio from the outside by known short-range wireless communication via the short-range wireless antenna 48. Hereinafter, the sound included in the content received via the short-range wireless antenna 48 is referred to as short-range wireless audio sound NA. In the present embodiment, the short-range wireless audio sound NA is assumed to be digital data.

Furthermore, the speech voice IV input via the microphone 46 is input to the transceiver 10.
The transceiver 10 converts the received voice HF, the uttered voice IV, and the barge voice BI into digital data at a sampling frequency (for example, 8 [kHz] or 16 [kHz]) defined respectively.

  Furthermore, the transceiver 10 outputs one of the received voice HF and the barge voice BI converted into digital data, one of the uttered voice IV and the short-range wireless audio voice NA.

The DSP 18 is a processor that processes digital signals.
The DSP 18 receives a radio audio signal RA. The DSP 18 samples the input radio audio signal RA at a specified sampling frequency, converts it into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the TDM converter 20.

Further, the DSP 18 receives a voice parameter and an audio voice AA. The voice parameter here is an analog voice used in the voice recognition function. The audio sound AA is analog sound reproduced by the storage medium reproduction device 52 that reproduces the audio signal stored in the storage medium. The input audio sound AA is output from the speaker 50 via the amplifier 22. The storage medium here is a medium for storing information, and is, for example, a hard disk, a CD, a DVD, or the like.

Further, the DSP 18 converts the short-range wireless audio sound NA from the transceiver 10 into analog sound, and outputs it from the speaker 50 via the amplifier 22.
Thereby, in this embodiment, a content reproduction function and a short-distance wireless reproduction function are realized.

In the present embodiment, the analog sound output from the DSP 18 to the amplifier 22 is the barge sound BI.
The TDM converter 20 resamples the input digital audio signal at a predetermined sampling frequency, and outputs it to the processor 24 by well-known time division multiplex communication.

  The digital audio signal referred to here is a digital audio input to the TDM converter 20, and may be all types of input digital audio, or a part of the input digital audio. It may be. In the present embodiment, the digital audio signal includes, for example, a barge audio BI, a speech audio IV, a TV audio signal TV, and a radio audio signal RA converted into digital.

  Note that the time division multiplexing is executed by generating a frame in which the resampled radio audio signal RA, television audio signal TV, barge audio BI, and speech audio IV are allocated in a time division manner.

  Subsequently, the processor 24 is a control device including a known microcomputer. The processor 24 in this embodiment may include one microcomputer or a plurality of microcomputers. An input device 54 provided in the navigation device is connected to the processor 24. The input device 54 mentioned here is a device that accepts input of information. The input device 54 includes, for example, a touch panel, a touch pad, various switches, and the like.

  The processor 24 demodulates the digital audio data from the TDM converter 20, and executes a function realization process for realizing an audio utilization function and a processor process to be described later in detail based on the demodulated digital audio data.

The function realization processing referred to here is, for example, processing for realizing each of a voice route guidance function, a radio voice output function, a voice output function in a television function, and a voice recognition function.
In the function realization processing for realizing the audio output function in the radio audio output function or the TV function, the processor 24 generates the audio BA output by the radio audio output function or the audio output function in the TV function. To do.

  Further, in the function realization process for realizing the voice route guidance function, the voice required for route guidance (hereinafter referred to as “route guidance voice”) INT and the warning sound INT_B necessary for route guidance are set at a specified timing. Read with. The route guidance voice INT and the voice data of the warning sound INT_B are stored in a storage device or the like constituting the navigation device. The process for realizing the voice recognition function is a well-known process for recognizing the content of the speech voice IV input through the microphone 46. In the present embodiment, the destination is set according to the recognized content. .

Further, the processor 24 outputs the voice BA, the route guidance voice INT, and the warning sound INT_B to the TDM converter 20 by a known time division multiplex communication.
The TDM converter 20 that has received the frame including the voice BA, the route guidance voice INT, and the warning sound INT_B demodulates the frame, and extracts the voice BA, the route guidance voice INT, and the warning sound INT_B. Then, the TDM converter 20 outputs the sound BA, route guidance sound INT, and warning sound INT_B to the DSP 18.

The DSP 18 that has acquired the voice BA, the route guidance voice INT, and the warning sound INT_B converts the voice BA, the route guidance voice INT, and the warning sound INT_B into analog voice, and outputs the analog voice from the speaker 50.
<Processor processing>
Next, processor processing executed by the processor 24 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the processor process is activated, the processor 24 determines whether or not the selection of the operation mode has been received via the input device 54 (S110). The operation mode mentioned here is a function to be realized in the navigation device, and includes an audio function, a wireless communication function, and a voice recognition function in addition to the voice route guidance function.

  As a result of the determination in S110, if the selection of the operation mode is not accepted (S110: NO), the processor 24 waits until the selection of the operation mode is accepted. When the selection of the operation mode is received (S110: YES), the processor 24 determines the operation mode so as to operate in the operation mode received via the input device 54 (S120).

  Further, the processor 24 outputs a mode notification MN indicating the type of operation mode determined in S120 to the transceiver 10 (S130). Thereafter, the processor 24 executes a function realizing process corresponding to the operation mode determined in S120 (S140), and returns the processor process to S110.

That is, the processor 24 outputs a mode notification MN indicating the type of operation mode received via the input device 54 to the transceiver 10 and executes a function realizing process corresponding to the received operation mode.
<Transceiver processing>
Next, a transceiver process executed by the microcomputer 26 of the transceiver 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the transceiver process is activated, the microcomputer 26 determines whether or not the mode notification MN from the processor 24 has been received (S210). As a result of the determination in S210, if the mode notification MN has not been received (S210: NO), the process waits until the mode notification MN is received.

  When the mode notification MN is received (S210: YES), the microcomputer 26 determines an output mode corresponding to the received mode notification MN (S220). Subsequently, the microcomputer 26 outputs only the sound necessary for realizing the sound use function corresponding to the mode notification MN to the TDM converter 20 and the DSP 18 in accordance with the output mode determined in S220 (S230).

Specifically, in S230 of the present embodiment, when the wireless call function is selected, the output destination of the speech voice IV is the wireless communication device 44, and the output destination of the reception voice HF is the TDM converter 20 and the DSP 18. The output received voice HF is emitted from the speaker 50 via the amplifier 22. As a result, a wireless call function, and thus a hands-free function and a telematics function in a mobile phone are realized.

  In S230, the transceiver 10 outputs the short-distance wireless audio sound NA to the TDM converter 20 and the DSP 18 when the short-distance wireless reproduction function is selected. The output short-range wireless audio sound NA is emitted from the speaker 50 via the amplifier 22. Thereby, a short-range wireless reproduction function is realized.

  Further, in S230, when the voice recognition function is selected, the transceiver 10 outputs the speech voice IV and the barge voice BI to the TDM converter 20 and the DSP 18. The output speech voice IV and barge voice BI are input to the processor 24. Then, the processor 24 removes noise from the utterance voice IV based on the barge voice BI, and executes voice recognition based on the utterance voice IV from which the noise is removed. Thereby, a voice recognition function is realized.

Thereafter, the processor 24 returns the transceiver process to S210.
That is, in the transceiver process, when the mode notification MN is received from the processor 24, only the sound necessary for realizing the sound use function corresponding to the mode notification MN is output to the TDM converter 20 and the DSP 18.

  As described above, in the voice control device 1 of the present embodiment, the transceiver 10 functions as a voice reception unit that acquires each voice necessary for realizing each voice use function. The processor 24 that executes S110 of the processor process functions as a selection receiving unit that receives selection of the type of the voice usage function to be executed from each of the voice usage functions.

  Further, in the voice control device 1, based on the acquired voice, a processor that executes S140 of the processor process as a control means that executes each of the function realization processes necessary for realizing the voice utilization function received by the selection receiving means. 24 functions.

Then, in accordance with the mode notification MN representing the function realizing process received by the selection receiving means, at least the sound output to the transmission line connected to the control means is the sound necessary for realizing the function realizing process corresponding to the mode notification MN. As the output switching means, the microcomputer 26 of the transceiver 10 that executes S230 of the transmission / reception processing functions.
[Effect of the embodiment]
That is, the transceiver 10 in the voice control apparatus 1 determines the voice to be output to the DSP 18 and the TDM converter 20 according to the mode notification MN.

For this reason, in the voice control apparatus 1, the voice output to the transmission line can be only the voice necessary for the function realization process currently being executed, and the output of unnecessary voice can be reduced.
As a result, according to the voice control device 1, it is possible to increase the types of functions to be realized using voice while suppressing an increase in the number of transmission lines.

  By the way, in the DSP 18 in the voice control device 1, the short-range wireless audio voice NA from the transceiver 10 is converted into analog voice and output from the speaker 50 via the amplifier 22. Thereby, according to the audio | voice control apparatus 1, the input audio | voice can be output and a content reproduction function and a short-distance wireless reproduction function are realizable.

When the voice control device 1 accepts the selection of the operation mode via the input device 54, the voice control device 1 can output the mode notification MN corresponding to the selected operation mode from the processor 24 to the microcomputer 26 of the transceiver 10. As a result, according to the voice control device 1, the contents of the voice use function being executed in the processor 24 can be recognized by the microcomputer 26 of the transceiver 10 in the voice control device 1.
[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is possible to implement in various aspects.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the hands-free function, the telematics function, the content reproduction function, and the short-range wireless reproduction function in the mobile phone are realized by the DSP 18, but in the present invention, these functions are performed by the processor 24. However, you may implement | achieve by performing a function implementation process.

  In addition, the audio control device 1 in the above embodiment includes the TV tuner 14. However, in the present invention, the TV tuner 14 may be omitted, or the apparatus may be changed to another device that acquires digital audio. It may be. As the “device for acquiring digital audio” mentioned here, for example, a device for receiving X-radio broadcasting can be considered.

  Furthermore, in the audio control device 1 in the above embodiment, the input of the digital audio signal to the processor 24 is executed by time division multiplex communication, but the input of the digital audio signal to the processor 24 is not limited to this. .

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the application target of the voice control device 1 is the navigation device. However, the application target of the voice control device 1 in the present invention is not limited to the navigation device.

  In addition, the aspect which abbreviate | omitted a part of structure of the said embodiment is also embodiment of this invention. Further, an aspect configured by appropriately combining the above embodiment and the modification is also an embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, all the aspects which can be considered in the limit which does not deviate from the essence of the invention specified by the wording described in the claims are the embodiments of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Voice control apparatus 10 ... Transmitter / receiver 12 ... Selector 14 ... Tuner 16 ... Radio tuner 18 ... DSP 20 ... Converter 22 ... Amplifier 24 ... Processor 26 ... Microcomputer 40 ... Television broadcast antenna 42 ... Radio broadcast antenna 44 ... Wireless communication Machine 46 ... Microphone 48 ... Short-range wireless antenna 50 ... Speaker 52 ... Storage medium playback device 54 ... Input device

Claims (4)

A voice control device (1) for realizing a plurality of voice use functions, which are functions using voice,
Voice receiving means (10) for acquiring each voice necessary for realizing each of the voice use functions;
Selection accepting means (24, S110) for accepting selection of the type of voice utilization function to be executed from each of the voice utilization functions;
Control means (24, S140, 18) for executing each of the function realizing processes necessary for realizing the voice use function received by the selection receiving means based on the voice acquired by the voice receiving means;
The voice receiving means
In accordance with the mode notification representing the function realization process accepted by the selection accepting means, at least the voice output to the transmission line connected to the control means is the voice necessary for realizing the function realization process corresponding to the mode notice. An audio control device comprising output switching means (10, S210 to S230). The control means includes
The voice control device according to claim 1, further comprising voice control means (18) that executes outputting the input voice as the function realizing process. The control means includes
The voice control device according to claim 1, wherein the mode notification is output to the voice receiving unit. The navigation device that realizes a voice guidance function as a voice use function as a route to a destination is provided. Voice control device.

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